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Greece: signs international tax agreement to tackle tax evasion

22/02/2012 - Greece has signed the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, a multilateral agreement that was developed jointly by the Council of Europe and the OECD and that is open for signature to all countries. The Convention promotes international co-operation in the assessment and collection of taxes.

As taxpayers increasingly operate on a global basis, tax authorities are moving from bilateral to multilateral co-operation and from exchange of information on request to more effective forms of collaboration. The Convention is an effective and practical tool to help tax authorities in their everyday work.

At a time when Greece is looking to shore up its economy in line with a new financial package supported by the Euro area countries and other stakeholders, the Convention will allow Greece to work more closely with other countries to combat tax avoidance and evasion.

“In addition to demonstrating its commitment to following the international standards on tax transparency and exchange of information, this signing is a step towards Greece’s efforts to restore the longer-term sustainability of its public finances. The Convention will help Greece improve its internal tax collection system and pursue the tax revenues lost to tax avoidance and evasion. This will ensure that individuals and multinational enterprises pay the right amount of tax, at the right time and in the right place,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.